Pyrotechnic compound.



UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ANTONIO DELGRANDE, OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO ROBERT H. SEABURY AND NICHOLAS DELGRANDE, OF

PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.

$PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,770, dated February 4, 1902.

' Application filed November 15, 1901. Serial No. 82,427. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANTO IO DELGRANDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Petersburg, in the county of Dinwiddie and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Pyrotechnic Compound, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates toa compound to be employed in the manufacture of fireworks, either in connection with that class of pyrotechnics known under the trade name of whistling bombs or with what are known as safety giant-crackers, the feature of novelty of which resides in combining with the pyrotechnic a substance which when ignited produces a clear,,shrill, and prolonged .note or sound closely resembling a whistle which precedes the explosion of the firework, and thus serves as an audible signal to give warning that the same is ignited. The substance employed forprodu'cing this novelty heretofore employed is picrate of potash, which has been used alone as such for the purpose described, and while thoroughlyefficient in use in accomplishing the object designed is objectionable on account of its cost of production and the added increase in price of the pyrotechnic employing it.

The object of the present invention is inaterially to reduce the cost of production of the picrate of potash, to diminish the quantity thereof employed 'in the pyrotechnic, thereby lessening the cost of its manufacture, and to impart to the compound a feature of added novelty which will tend not only to heighten interest in the firework employing it, but will also be of value as subserving the double function of a visual and an audible signal.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel pyrotechnic compound hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In carrying the'invention into effect there is taken of the following ingredients, by weight: picric acid, twenty parts; saltpeter, seventy parts; carbonate of magnesia, five parts; dissolved glue, five parts; paris-green, three parts, and powdered gunpowder four parts. These ingredients are taken and intimately mixed, after which a sufficient quantity of boiling water is added to reduce the compound to a pasty mass, and after thorough incorporation has been effected the bulk of wateris expressed, and the mass is then dried, reduced to granules or powder, and is then ready for use.

The addition of gunpowder to the compound renders the picrate of potash produced by the reagents contained in the above composition more highly combustible and at the same time efiects a large saving in the amount used, as the diminution in quantity both of the picrate and the consequent reduction in volume of the gas evolved thereby, which produces the sharpness in sound, is compensated for by a like proportion of gas given off by the gunpowder in burning. It is to be understood, of course, that the quantity of water employed'in reducing the ingredients to a pasty mass is only to be sufficient for the purpose, so that that expressed will carry off only a per cent. of the saltpeter, leaving the gunpowder substantially unchanged, that remaining being sutlicient for effecting the proper combustion of the picrate and-of the gunpowder. p

The addition of paris-green to the compound causes the same when ignited to burn with a definite color, in this instance a bluish-green, which, in addition to presenting a visual signal of pronounced color, will result in imparting increased beauty to and interest in the firework employing this compound. -\Vhile aris-green is herein named as an illuminant for imparting a definite color to the compound when burning, it is to be understood that any other illuminant or salt of copper may be employed in lieu thereof to produce other colors than that named.

In the use of this compound in connection with a whistling-bomb it may be packed into a hollow core, as usual, and when used in connection with a giant fire-cracker may 5 While dissolved glue is herein named as a binder for holding the ingredients cohered, it is to be understood that any other adhesive suited to the purpose may be employed, if preferred.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A composition for pyrotechnic use obtained by incorporating picric acid, saltpeter, carbonate of magnesia, dissolved glue, and powdered gunpowder with water, and removing the water, the ingredients to be substantially in the proportions specified.

2. A composition for pyrotechnic use obtained by incorporating picric acid, saltpeter, carbonate of magnesia, dissolved glue, a salt of copper andpowdered gunpowderwith water, and removing the water, the ingredients to be substantially in the proportions specified.

3. A composition for pyrotechnic use obtained byincorporating twenty parts of picric acid, seventy parts of saltpeter, five parts of carbonate of magnesia, five parts of dissolved glue, three parts of paris-green and four parts of powdered gunpowder with a sufficient quantity of boiling Water to reduce the ingredients to a pasty mass, and then removing the water.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANTONIO DELGRANDE.

IVitnesses:

R, O. GILLIAM, 7 NICHOLAS DEL GRANDE. 

